Identity

I decided to attempt with my own version of poetry in relation to themes of identity, cultural identity and being a half-caste. Also the term 'Other'. I admire and applaud the way Albert Wendt made a stand stating he and his people would not be defined as 'Other.'
In the words of actor Brian Blessed: (ASB commercials)

"Be not so humble, be proud!" ( Blessed would have also bellowed; "Bravo!")

Aotearoa / New Zealand is my place of birth
The colour of my skin does not define my worth.
My hair as people have commented is perfectly straight,
The ignorant merely quip; "It's not a Polynesian trait."
I was often teased when younger, that my eyebrows looked like Mal Meninga's,
I took that as a compliment, never allowing negativity to linger.
They're more like Oscar's from Sesame Street, including the semi-permanent frown.
Ignore all the critics, they're not worth your time.
Instead walk as though upon your head, lay a crown.
The colour of your skin is neither a crime or a sin.
Embrace what you were born in.....
whether your skin be brown, red, or yellow like the hues of Autumn, ebony like rare black diamonds or shades of tan, like sandy beaches or the sea foam, soft and white.
As long as your spirit remains free, unshackled,
to soar in glorious flight.

My cultural identity for me is hard to define.
My great grandfather Maximilian originally hailed from Westphalen, Germany.

My great grandmother was Gilbertese.

My grandmother was meant to have had a flag draped over her coffin. She had risked her own life by ensuring Catholic priests safety and provided food for them during the Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands during WWII.

My grandfather was a medical practitioner employed by the New Zealand government, he was born in Tokelau and also of Samoan descent.
My father was a proud Samoan, born and raised.
He came to these shores in his youth, for the same reasons the majority of people do; in search of employment and/or educational opportunities for their children and earn money and to have a good life.
He was honest, hard working and paid off the mortgage on his Mt. Eden home. He took responsibility in raising my sister and I and supported his mother too. Like many Pacific Islanders, he wanted to retire to his place of birth.
He passed away unexpectedly, two weeks short of his pre-booked flight.
Mother was an enigma......... of mixed European descent.
I have loved being of mixed ethnicity, a hybrid as someone once said.
In the end, like many others, I saw myself as a Kiwi.





The poems by the various pacific artists are interesting and engaging,
amusing at times, thought provoking, food for debate...

Alas, you are confronted by the ugly reality that is prejudice and hate.
Ignorance and negative stereotyping only adds fuel to the fire,
like when you label a gypsy; a vagabond, a thief and a liar.
I was once yelled at by a racist neighbour, "Go back to your tent!"
He ignorantly assumed I was of Native American descent.
Like the fictional character of 'Archie Bunker' from "All in the Family" (a 70's sitcom)
he happily aired all his racially biased pov's and prejudices (www.youtube.com)
My family thought it was amusing and it is easy to laugh at the incident now,
but at the time, you're tempted to retaliate; "Bring on Batman and Robin... Biff! Bam! Kapow!"
Situations can ignite and get out of hand; when someone chooses to open Hades gate...
to a flood of racial intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, hostility and hate.
The world needs more 'Super Heroes' of the human kind,
So that no one person or group shall feel marginalized or left behind.                  




I enjoyed listening to: 'Brown Brother' by J. S. Iosefo

My Art History test, High Sch.

Pacific Island youth need encouragement to go into the world and have aspirations and make what they may have deemed impossible possible. During my school years, I was good at English and Art and through High School I did well in History and Art History though it helps to be passionate in the subjects you're studying and enjoy what you're learning, maintain your focus and not get distracted. Youth need the right kind of motivation. To have good role models and mentoring to help them succeed. I did and that makes a big difference. I admired Joshua's speech, his confidence, poise, his voice and eloquence. However, I had some mixed feelings regarding aspects of his spoken word poem. Had he been my son, I would not have allowed him to walk out the door without a few amendments. I felt some of what he had to say would have been more relevant a few decades ago because I feel at this point in time, many Pacific Islanders have succeeded in many avenues of life; through education, the arts, sports, using God-given talents, acquiring their own business and/ or their first home and so on. Youth need Pacific Island role models like Joshua to inspire them and defy the demographics. I've grown up in a Pacific Island household and though we had the traditional Pacific Island ornamental items in our home, I was raised as a kiwi, the island language my grandmother had taught me to speak in was discarded in favour of English for school. This was a mistake because your language is a major part of your identity, your culture and ancestry. I have grown up with plenty of Pacific Island role models who have succeeded in different avenues of life. My first after school employer was Tongan. He owned a grocery store, a restaurant, a racehorse, his own home and a sports car (he had started out as a bus driver). My son's primary school principle was Samoan as well as a fellow doctor who worked at the doctor's surgery. As for people who work in factories, cleaning and so on, they work damned hard, often in thankless jobs. I live across from a hotel and every night the Pacific Island cleaner is there working through the night. Often the parents work different shifts to make ends meet. I used to work days and my ex husband worked nights. We both worked full time and looked after our baby. I did the majority of household duties. I would get home from work, and he would be leaving for work. When he would return home from work, I'd just be going to sleep. Even with two jobs we were just surviving. Blame at times should be directed at the government to raise minimum wage. People are relegated to a substandard quality of life. Existing is NOT living! Minimum wage does not reflect the high cost of living, especially in Auckland. I challenge members of parliament to have a trial period of living on a minimum wage. They receive their annual raise before Christmas, estimated at 2%. While they look foreword to "Deck the halls with boughs of holly....",. for others, poverty dictates the same bleak outlook, no festive fare or presents under the tree. With higher levels of stress at this time of year, It'll be more like "Deck the wife......"
(no reference intended to any particular race, just families that are financially disadvantaged and/or suffer especially during Christmas). Financial issues are an underlying major contributing factor. I visited a young family. The husband's employed full time, receiving $380.00 (after tax) and even with FTC and top up, they struggle financially due to high rents, petrol prices, power, water and so on. The woman's father gives money from his own pocket (he earns minimum wage) and he suffers because he doesn't have enough for himself. The same man, extracted his own tooth because he couldn't afford dental costs. People share medications because they can't afford doctor and prescription charges. Minimum wage confines people to a life of poverty, frustration, tension and despair. It's POVERTY Mr. Key. Many of the societal issues that exist today are directly poverty related. For a child's birthday, I had to buy shoes instead of a toy. To quote one mother; "What is the point of this shit existence?" I sympathize and wonder is she right? People deserve a living wage, a quality of life for themselves and their children. A sense of hope for the future. As for people on benefits, there was a recent documentary "New Zealand and the Economy," that aired on T.V. It had stated tax evasion equaled 1 billion, despite this, only 50 percent per year are prosecuted with a 20 percent chance of receiving a jail term. Benefit fraud though greatly less, had a higher percent of prosecution with a 60 percent chance of receiving a jail term. At times, the timing of news regarding people on benefits seems suspect. For example: at one point, there were three major ongoing news stories; reduced fishing quotas, the Fonterra scandal and another news piece that had been dominating the news for some time, then a news item was aired regarding people on benefits. It was a convenient and timely distraction, taking the heat off from the governments involvement in other issues and gave them breathing space. It seems white collar crime does pay. For example; in 1992, executive chairman of Equiticorp, Allan Hawkins was accused of embezzlement, $88 million from investors, yet only sentenced to six years. Bridgecorp chairman Bruce Nelson Davidson was sentenced to nine months home detention, 200 hours community work and only ordered to pay 500.000 reparation. The investors had lost 49 million.

  

          

                                                                            

It is vital to have a sense of one's own cultural identity to enable a person to have a sense of belonging and a connection to their ancestral roots.  


I once had a Chinese flatmate who at one point, lost her cultural identity. She recounted her childhood story. She and several children had been abandoned in/outside a village in China (due to some superstition). She was later on adopted by a pastor and family in NZ (she believed he'd done it purely for publicity and had retained newspaper clippings of the event). It would have been a traumatic time, abandoned by her family then removed from her place of birth, culture and her people then have to adapt to a new life, family, country and culture. She was given an English name and confided she had never felt loved by her adoptive family. At one point, she had tried to wash her brown skin white, to fit in with her new family. Many years later, she had a beautiful half-caste daughter, whom she had given both a Chinese and English name.

The orator Chief Lauaki Namulau'ulu Mamoe, and others on board a German warship being taken to exile in Saipan.

Injustice is ... 

Samoans tried regaining their independence by creating the Mau a Pule movement in 1908. They held peaceful protests, led by the orator Chief Lauaki Namulau'ulu Mamoe. He and other Mau a Pule Chiefs, along with their wives and children were banished to live in Saipan, Mariana Islands in 1909. Sadly many of them died while still in exile. Lauaki Namulau'ulu Mamoe died on 14th December 1915 without ever seeing his beloved Samoa again. The injustice is they only participated in peaceful protests, first against German colonialism and mistreatment and later against New Zealand. Being exiled, deprived them of being with their extended families, friends and their homeland. Pacific Islanders are very family orientated and have a deep and abiding attachment for their homeland. Looking at photographs of the people aboard the ship and seeing the resignation on their faces...evokes feelings of sadness, anger and disgust... that one race can invade another's land and abuse the civil rights of another.







A young girl lay,
on a cold August night.
So silent and still 
Alone, except for a guardian angel,
a silent witness to her soul's departing flight
Within the hearts of her aiga,

Agnes Ali'iva'a 

she will always remain.
Cherished.

Forever. 
An iridescent flame.

Injustice is ... 

A young girl was found dead at Keith Hay park. The media referred to her as; "The girl in the ditch". The media should have made an effort to be more mindful. It is devastating to lose a child under any circumstances."The girl in Keith Hay park" would have been sufficient. How would they have liked it had she been their daughter. Though she was half naked with her track pants inside out, only one sock on and no shoes, police closed the case, concluding accidental drowning. They were negligent in their duty. When a child is missing or has died in suspicious circumstances, no stone should be left unturned....as in the case of Madeleine McCann. When discovered by a passer by, she was lying face down in a ditch with shallow water. She may have fallen from a nearby ridge and become unconscious. There should have been an investigation into whether she may have been a victim of a sexual assault. Marks and abrasions were found on several parts of her face and body. A person associated with the case said they may have been caused by her jumping from a vehicle. After her body was turned over for photographs, it was mistakenly assumed she was a twenty year old due to her physical maturity. Perhaps had they directed their gaze more towards her face, they would have realised she was just a young girl not quite a teen. No twelve year old girl could pass for a twenty year old, even with make up. Her clothes had been disposed of and not kept for evidence. The case was reopened four years later due to public pressure and the minister of Labour the Hon. Phil Goff.  

I loved: "The Turtle and the Shark"
a beautiful love story. I loved the use of the tapa cloth in the animation:
   



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydDi9iuKbhM


I admired the poignant poem:  'Filemu Samoa!'  by  Ole Maiava          






Below is a short narrative using 'Cinderella,' to illustrate and address various themes in connection with the pacific: colonization, incidents involving injustice, majority versus minority...a power play when the oppressed are pawns in a monopoly game with the colonizers holding the dice and making up their own rules. Included are certain historical events. I use humour, though by no means do I intend it to lessen or devalue issues that were/are still relevant to this day and the historical significance of tragic events.

The character of Cinderella is representative of someone disadvantaged, oppressed, marginalized. The character has similar qualities to Pacific Islanders I have grown up with; being humble, quiet spoken, hard-working and loyal.


Once upon a 'Pacific Standard' time...

There once was a young woman, I shall name her Cinderella,
I do not mean a fa'afafine (a fella).
She lived in a tranquil, untainted paradise... far from cities, pollution and crowds.
Like her own people, she was immersed in her own identity, her culture and ancestry,
of which she was passionate and proud.
The 'Fa'a Samoa' was a part of their traditional way of life.
To be humble and live a simple existence, without too much strife.
They had their seafaring skills, fishing skills and many a plantation.
Then over a period of several years...they came... without an extended invitation,
Lo and behold, the stepmother and the ugly step-sister's... from more than one nation.
Britain the Great (mother-of-all bullies)... in tow with her military force,
Germany too bringing discourse,
New Zealand; shame on you, for the killing of Afioga Tama-Aiga Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III
and the thousands of lives lost with the Spanish Flu.
USA like the great bird of prey, decided to nest and therefore did stay.
France, abandoned her interest in Samoa, thank the Lord for deliverance!
Samoa had no need for her French language, French bread or wine and her damned nuclear stance!


They had all fought for control; Samoa, her islands, resources and people,
Cinderella didn't need her Godmother, her faith was higher than a steeple.  
They tried enforcing their laws and authority, preaching Christianity while lashing out with brutality.
The colonisers deemed themselves as superior,
Treating Samoans, as though they were inferior.
They tried promoting their systems of justice, values and beliefs,
Samoa was steadfast, with her own customs, social systems, including their Matais (Chiefs).
Alleluia! She regained her Independence, depression was replaced with elation and great jubilation!
As for the English stepmother and the ugly step-sister's bar one,
there was only one thing that needed to be done,
Castration!

The Dawn Raids:
The dawn raids unfairly targeted Pacific Islanders. Richard Prebble a Labour MP at the time, was astounded and perplexed to have had two policemen knock on his front door. His wife was Fijian.The dawn raids were instigated when the economy spiralled downwards. Island families were traumatized. Richard Prebble stated that Islanders were used as an easy scapegoat. By 1975 the National party under Muldoon started a racial campaign using a racist cartoon portraying Islanders as immigrants taking New Zealanders jobs and houses and causing problems. Police were made to focus on looking for Pacific Island over-stayers. Pat Booth former editor of 'The Auckland Star' stated if the islanders were found to be legitimate, police looked for other excuses to arrest them; One man was arrested for having two combs in his pocket which he had found. Police were targeting anyone with brown skin. 1970's -1980's statistics showed the majority of over-stayers were from Europe and America but were not targeted the same way. Two thirds of over-stayers were European, yet two thirds of Pacific Islanders were prosecuted. Helen Clark said the dawn raids were shameful and picked on individuals who were not European. It would be interesting if National started a dawn raid on people involved in tax evasion. 1 billion in unpaid taxes. I guess police would have problems getting through their gates and the latest in hi tech security. Guilty parties could always run off to their helipad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZviIkSxjV0k

"Brotown"
I never allowed my son to watch Brotown. I want to RAISE him up not bring him down. Programmes like 'Brotown' and the 'Semisis' perpetuate the ignorant, biased racial stereotyping that is demeaning to all people of the Pacific. I want my son to grow up and be proud of his cultural identity and the Pacific Island blood that courses through his veins.





Photographic images have been retrieved from:
https://www.google.co.nz/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi

Artwork is my own.